• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.487-498
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• 2016

Leptin, an adipokine predominantly produced from adipose tissue, is well known to induce tumor growth. However, underlying molecular mechanisms are not established yet. While p53 has long been well recognized as a potent tumor suppressor gene, accumulating evidence has also indicated its potential role in growth and survival of cancer cells depending on experimental environments. In the present study, we examined if p53 signaling is implicated in leptin-induced growth of cancer cells. Herein, we demonstrated that leptin treatment significantly increased p53 protein expression in both hepatic (HepG2) and breast (MCF-7) cancer cells without significant effect on mRNA expression. Enhanced p53 expression by leptin was mediated via modulation of ubiquitination, in particular ubiquitin specific protease 2 (USP2)-dependent manner. Furthermore, gene silencing of p53 by small interfering RNA (siRNA) suppressed leptin-induced growth of hepatic and breast cancer cells, indicating the role of p53 signaling in tumor growth by leptin. In addition, we also showed that knockdown of p53 restored suppression of caspase-3 activity by leptin through modulating Bax expression and prevented leptin-induced cell cycle progression, implying the involvement of p53 signaling in the regulation of both apoptosis and cell cycle progression in cancer cells treated with leptin. Taken together, the results in the present study demonstrated the potential role of p53 signaling in leptin-induced tumor growth.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.531-540
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• 1998

The DYLAM-3 code which overcomes the limitation of event tree/fault tree was applied to LOOP (Loss of Off-site Power) in the mid-loop operation employing HEPs (Human Error Probabilities) supplied by the ASEP (Accident Sequence Evaluation Program) and the SEPLOT (Systematic Evaluation Procedure for Low power/shutdown Operation Task) procedure in this study. Thus the time history of core uncovery frequency during the mid-loop operation was obtained. The sensitivity calculations in the operator's actions to prevent core uncovery under LOOP in the mid-loop operation were carried out. The analysis using the time dependent HEP was performed on the primary feed & bleed which has the most significant effect on core uncovery frequency. As the result, the increment of frequency is shown after 200 minutes duration of simulation conditions. This signifies the possibility of increment in risk after 200 minutes. The primary feed & bleed showed the greatest impact on core uncovery frequency and the recovery of the SCS (Shutdown Cooling System) showed the least impact. Therefore the efforts should be taken on the primary feed & bleed to reduce the core uncovery frequency in the mid-loop operation. And the capability of DYLAM-3 in applying to the time dependent concerns could be demonstrated.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.199-204
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• 2014

The aim of this research was to improve our understanding of human toxicity due to exposure to DMF, MEK, or TOL individually as compared to exposure to DMF-MEK or DMF-TOL mixtures, by comparing $EC_{50}$ values as well as the morphological changes in HepG2 cells treated with these substances. We found that there was marked cell necrosis in the groups treated with mixtures than in those treated with the compounds alone, and that the amount of cell death and the $EC_{50}$ value were more dependent on MEK and TOL than on DMF. Moreover, analysis of the changes in effective concentration curves revealed that MEK had an antagonistic effect on the human toxicity of DMF, whereas TOL had a synergistic effect. Accordingly, these results suggest that in workplaces involved in the manufacture of synthetic leather, mixtures of DMF and TOL should be avoided as much as possible in order to minimize environmental toxicity and protect the health of the workers.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.238-244
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• 2003

Nicotine is one of the major hazardous components in cigarettc smoke. Nicotine deals a harmful effect to smokers and passive smokers due to its rapid conversion to various carcinogenic metabolites. Nitrosamine-4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is believed to cause lung cancers among the nicotine-derived carcinogens. Recent studies report that NNK synthesis can be inhibited by the metabolism pathway to produce a stable metabolite cotinine from nicotine. Tea polyphenols have been known to contain factors to prevent cancers and to retard progression of cancers. This study aims to correlate tea polyphenol's potential for cancer prevention with an accelerated formation of cotinine. The conversion from nicotine to cotinine in the presence of tea extracts or three polyphenols (Catechin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin gallate) was measured in established cell lines and in Xenopus oocytes. Among three lines of cell used, PLC/PRF5 and HEK293 cells showed a fast turnover from nicotine to cotinine while HepG2 cell line showed a marginal difference between groups treated and non-treated with tea polyphenols. When Xenopus oocytes were microinjected with nicotine, tea polyphenols appear to accelerate the conversion of nicotine to cotinine. Among the polyphenols tested in this study, (＋)－catechin showed the best efficiency overall in accelerating conversion from nicotine to cotinine both in the cell lines and in the oocytes. In summary, the present study indicated that tea polyphenols have a positive effect on conversion of nicotine to cotinine.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.133-136
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• 2002

GC-MS data on the volatile oil (CS-oil) of Chrysanthemum sibiricum herbs led to the identification of 2-methoxythioanisol, (+)-camphor, geraniol, citral, thymol, eugenol, ${\beta}-caryophyllene$ oxide, ${\beta}-caryophyllene$, ${\beta}-eudesmol$, juniper camphor together with an unknown substance using the mass spectral library and literature data. CS-oil exhibited significant cytotoxicities on HL-60 $(IC_{50}\;12.5\;{\mu}g/ml)$ cell and mild on HepG-2 cell $(IC_{50}\;102.4\;{\mu}g/ml)$, though the antioxidant ability was found not to be potent $(IC_{50}\;97.2\;{\mu}g/ml)$. However, the component eugenol showed potent antioxidant ability but mild cytotoxicity. Methyleugenol with no phenolic OH showed less potent cytotoxic and antioxidative properties than eugenol suggesting that phenolic OH plays an important role for the cytotoxic and antioxidant abilities. The oil-pretreatment prevented lipid peroxidation induced by bromobenzene in the rat. Therefore, it was demonstrated that CS-oil could be a cytotoxic agent with antioxidant properties.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.125-130
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• 1987

The role of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli(EPEC) was evaluated in a group of children with endemic diarrhea admitted to Hanyang University Hospital in Seoul, Korea. EPEC was detected in fecal samples of 23% of 100 cases and 4.5% of 44 concurrent control children. The most commonly isolated EPBC strains were serogroups $O_{18a}O_{18c}:K_{77},\;O_{86a}:K_{61},\;O_{119}:K_{69},\;and\;O_{128}:K_{70}$. On testing for enterotoxin production, 6(26%) strains were isolated from 17% of the 100 diarrheal children and in 4.5% of the 44 well controls(P<0.05). Our study supports the concept that EPEC may be an important cause of endemic diarrheas in Korea.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.541-547
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• 2006

Four alkaloids (1-4), three quinolone alkaloids (5-7), and three flavanoid glucosides (8-10) were isolated from the fruits of Evodia officinalis Dode, and their structures were determined from chemical and spectral data. Compounds, 3, 8, 9 and 10 were isolated from this plant for the first time. Of these compounds, 1-3 and 5-7 exhibited moderate cytotoxicities against cultured human colon carcinoma (HT-29), human breast carcinoma (MCF-7), and human hepatoblastoma (HepG-2). Compound 8 showed strong inhibitory effects on DNA topoisomerases I and II (70 and 96% inhibition at a concentration of $20\;{\mu}M$, respectively).

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.261-273
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to introduce effects of Chukyu pharmacopuncture and Brainspotting on knee pain, headaches, and acute stress disorder of a patient with a traffic accident. We treated a patient with Chukyu pharmacopuncture and Brainspotting. Numerical rating scale (NRS), Range of Motion (ROM), Hyperextension Position (HEP), Effusion (Eff), Patella Compression Test (PCT), Frontal Flexion Position (FFP), McMurray (MCM), Lateral Joint Line Tenderness (LJLT), Medial Joint Line Tenderness (MJLT), Anterior Drawer Test (ADT), Lachman Test, Varus/Valgus stress, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Core Seven Emotions Inventory Short Form (CSEI-S), Subjective units of disturbance scale (SUDs), and Heart rate variability (HRV) were used to evaluate the patient. After the patient was treated by Chukyu pharmacopuncture and Brainspotting, the patient showed improvement in NRS, physical examination, and psychological symptom assessment. These results indicate that Chukyu pharmacopuncture and Brainspotting are effective on knee pain, headache, and acute stress disorder after a traffic accident.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.277-283
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• 2021

Objectives : We investigated the effects of Bojungikgi-tang (BJIGT) on P450 cytochrome enzyme and oxidative stress in the cells. Methods : We enrolled the HepG2 hepatocyte cell line to assess MTT assay, flow cytometer, and immunoblotting analysis. Expression of CYP450 was confirmed by immunoblotting analysis in the Huh7 cell line. Results : We determined that BJIKT markdely changed the expression of the CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP2E1. Moreover, BJIKT inhibited the cell toxicity induced by arachidonic acid + iron treatment, as assessed by FACS analysis. BJIKT induced AMPK activation, which increased the phophorylation of ACC. Conclusions : This study verified the effects of BJIKT, on P450, ROS production, mitochondrial damage and AMPK signaling pathway, which might give us the scientific information about the traditional herbal prescription.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.175-182
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• 2019

microRNAs regulate a diverse spectrum of cancer biology, including tumorigenesis, metastasis, stemness, and drug resistance. To investigate miRNA-mediated regulation of drug resistance, we characterized the resistant cell lines to 5-fluorouracil by inducing stable expression of miRNAs using lenti-miRNA library. Here, we demonstrate miR-551a as a novel factor regulating cell survival after 5-FU treatment. miR-551a-expressing cells (Hep3B-lenti-miR-551a) were resistant to 5-FU-induced cell death, and after 5-FU treatment, and showed significant increases in cell viability, cell survival, and sphere formation. It was further shown that myocyte-specific factor 2C is the direct target of miR-551a. Our results suggest that miR-551a plays a novel function in regulating 5-FU-induced cell death, and targeting miR-551a might be helpful to sensitize cells to anti-cancer drugs.